If you need to contact the IRS about identity theft concerns, call their dedicated Identity Theft Hotline at 800-908-4490. They can help with getting an IP PIN and filing the Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039). Also the IRS NEVER asks for personal info via text, email or social media so that's another red flag about your dad's request.

I'm so glad you took action and froze your credit! That was absolutely the right move. The combination of red flags you described - the SSN request, unauthorized authorized user addition, and credit offers to his address - definitely warranted immediate protective action. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, it's worth noting that legitimate tax preparers and software will clearly explain WHY they need any family member's SSN (like for dependents, education credits, etc.). Vague requests like "the software is asking for it" without explanation are major warning signs. Also, consider setting up account monitoring with your bank and credit card companies if you haven't already. Many offer free alerts for any new account inquiries or applications using your SSN. It's another layer of protection that can catch potential misuse early. The IRS Identity Protection PIN is definitely your best next step - it essentially locks down your tax filing so no one can submit returns with your SSN without that PIN. Stay vigilant and trust your instincts like you did here!

Don't forget about per diem rates! Instead of tracking every food receipt, you can use the standard meal per diem rates for Charleston which is much simpler. Still only 50% deductible though. Also remember your ground transportation (Ubers from airport to Airbnb to property sites) is 100% deductible. Keep a simple log of where you went each day.

Great question! I went through something similar when I was expanding my marketing agency to Austin last year. Everything Sofia mentioned is spot-on - you can absolutely deduct those travel expenses since you're traveling primarily for business purposes. One thing I'd add is to be extra careful about timing. If you book your flights and accommodations well in advance and then end up not moving forward with the Charleston expansion for whatever reason, you can still deduct the expenses as long as you had a legitimate business intent at the time of the trip. The IRS looks at your intent when you incurred the expenses, not the ultimate outcome. Also, consider documenting your business plan or expansion strategy beforehand - even just a simple outline showing you've done market research on Charleston and identified specific business reasons for potentially expanding there. This helps establish that legitimate business purpose from the get-go. Safe travels and good luck with your property search!

Based on the Internal Revenue Manual section 25.25.6, what you're experiencing is likely an RPD (Return Processing Department) verification hold. The system detected a discrepancy that requires manual verification. There are precisely three types of verification letters the IRS typically sends in this scenario: 1. Letter 4883C - Identity Verification Letter 2. Letter 5071C - Identity Verification Letter (more common) 3. Letter 5447C - Taxpayer Protection Program Verification Letter The verification process typically takes 2-3 weeks from the date you complete verification. If you haven't received a letter within 14 days of being told one was sent, you should contact the IRS Taxpayer Protection Program directly at 800-830-5084 between 7am and 7pm local time.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Filed in late February and have been checking my transcripts obsessively. They were blank for about 3 weeks, then WMR suddenly showed a refund date but transcripts still blank. When I called last week, they told me the same thing about verification and expecting a letter. I'm really hoping this doesn't delay things too much because I have some important expenses coming up. It's reassuring to see that others have gone through this process successfully, even though it sounds like the timing can be unpredictable. Has anyone who's been through this process noticed if there are certain situations that trigger verification more often? I'm wondering if major life changes (like divorce) make returns more likely to get flagged for this kind of review.

Has anyone tried using percentage allocation for this? I do baking videos and typically deduct 75% of the cost of ingredients since I make multiple test batches before filming the final version, but then my family eats the finished product.

This is such a timely question! I just started my own food content channel last month and have been wrestling with exactly these issues. One thing I've learned is that documentation is absolutely critical. I now keep a detailed spreadsheet that tracks every grocery purchase, noting which items were bought specifically for video content versus regular family meals. For ingredients used in videos, I record the video title, filming date, and business purpose. I also photograph my receipts and keep notes about any test batches or failed attempts - apparently those count as legitimate business expenses too since they're part of the content development process. My accountant told me that the key is showing clear business intent and maintaining consistent records. The mixed-use aspect is definitely tricky though. When I make a dish for a video and then serve it to my family for dinner, I usually allocate about 70% as business expense (for the content creation part) and 30% as personal (for the family meal aspect). Not sure if that's the "right" way to do it, but it feels reasonable and my tax preparer approved the approach. Anyone else have tips for keeping good records for food content expenses?

Has anyone considered the advertising expense angle? While club dues aren't deductible, advertising expenses definitely are. If you're using the photos taken at the country club as part of your advertising materials, couldn't you argue that a portion of the dues represents the cost of creating advertising content?

I've been following this discussion closely as I'm dealing with a similar situation with my photography business. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the potential for creating a legitimate rental agreement with the country club for specific business use. Instead of trying to deduct membership dues, you could approach the club about paying a separate hourly or daily rate specifically for commercial photography access during off-peak hours. Many clubs are actually open to this because it generates additional revenue without interfering with member play. This creates a clear business expense that's completely separate from any personal membership benefits. I've done this with several venues and it's much cleaner from a tax perspective - you're paying specifically for business use of the facility, not for membership privileges that could be used personally. The key is making sure the arrangement is documented properly and the payments are separate from any membership fees. This way you avoid the Section 274 restrictions entirely since you're not deducting club dues - you're deducting legitimate business facility rental costs.